The Only TAB

The only time the enemy came close to downing an Oxcart A-12 was on October 30, 1967. The missions were called Black Shield

During his first pass over North Vietnam, pilot Dennis Sullivan Detected Radar tracking. Two Sam’s sites prepared to launch, But neither did. During Sullivan’s second Pass, we were waiting for him. North Vietnam fired at least six missiles. Each is confirmed by vapor trails on Mission photography. The pilot saw the vapor trails in the photograph.

The pilot witnessed three missile detonations near and behind the A-12, which was traveling at Mach 3.1 at about 84,000 feet.

Post-fly inspection of the aircraft revealed that a piece of metal penetrated the underside of the right way, passing through three layers of titanium and lodged against a support structure of the wing tank. (If it hit the wing tank the A 12 would’ve had a problem) The fragment was not a Warhead palette, Probably debris from one of the missile Detonations that the pilot observed. This is the first and last time a missile got that close.

Source CIA

Linda Sheffield Miller

@Habubrats71 via X

F-14D 164604 (632/D-37) VX-9/Det

Point Mugu - NAS / Naval Base Ventura County, California

3 October 1996